Germany experiences a surprising 2-0 defeat in their inaugural World Cup qualifying away match against Slovakia
In a surprising turn of events, Germany suffered a 2-0 defeat in their first World Cup qualifier for the 2026 tournament, against hosts Slovakia. This was Germany's first away loss in a World Cup qualifier.
The match began with a tense atmosphere, with both teams showcasing their defensive skills. However, Slovakia took the lead in the 42nd minute, thanks to a fine finish from David Hanchko. The goal was the result of a quick break following a loss of possession by Germany's Florian Wirtz.
In the second half, Germany looked more aggressive, but were unable to mount a serious comeback. Slovakia scored their second goal in the 55th minute, against the run of play, with David Strelec curling a shot past Oliver Baumann.
Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, stating that they did not show any emotionality during the game. He expressed a desire to see more emotionality from the team, suggesting that the team might need to focus less on quality and more on players who will give it all out there. Nagelsmann also emphasised the importance of showing willingness and desire, not just being better players than the opponent.
Nagelsmann stated that the team wants to go to the World Cup, but they have not made an impact in major international tournaments since last winning the World Cup in 2014. This defeat follows three consecutive losses, including defeats by Portugal and France in the Nations League in June.
Slovakia will play their next Group A match against Luxembourg on Sunday, while Germany will host Northern Ireland in their next match. Germany's goal is to win the 2026 World Cup, but they will need to improve their performance if they are to achieve this goal.
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